Some events can be planned rather quickly. But, if you are looking to create a magical – and memorable – holiday event, then you will want to start planning now. There are many aspects to planning a successful event, such as:
- Finding the perfect location
- Selecting the best time and date
- Preparing the guest list and sending invitations
- Designing the venue
- Scheduling the entertainment, dining, etc.
So, what are you waiting for? Get planning – and check out these key tips.
Outdoors is possible – even in the cold
There are many holiday celebrations that take place during the cooler months of the year, but that does not mean they all must be held indoors. By choosing a temporary building to house your event, you are opening yourself up to a great open space to design in any manner you wish.
Keep your options open for locations. Temporary event tents can be erected in your own backyard – or in any open space big enough for your needs. With the ability to choose side walls and temperature control, you can keep your guests toasty and keep the celebration out of your house!
Busy holiday event schedules
Perhaps the most difficult part of planning a holiday event is making sure it fits within everyone’s schedule. Now, keep in mind that it is absolutely going to be impossible to fit your event neatly into every guest’s calendar. However, if you are aware of other events going on among your clique or close-knit organizations, you can avoid choosing to host yours on the same day. In addition, if there are specific guests that you would like to have attend your event, talk to them in advance to discuss days. Again, this is not going to be possible to do with every single guest. Do your best to select the day and time that works for you and everything else will fall into place.
Inviting your guests
When preparing invitations for your holiday event, you will want to make sure to give ample amount of notice to your potential guests. This is due to a number of social functions that take place – if you want a good turnout, you’ve got to take up the calendar space first. However, you do not want to send them too early.
So, when should you send your invites? Approximately 4 to 6 weeks in advance. This gives plenty of time for your guests to make arrangements and to beat others who may have scheduled an event on the same day. When sending your invitation, make sure to ask for an RSVP about 2 to 3 weeks ahead of your holiday event.
Because this time of year is so busy for many people, you will want to invite more people than you’d expect to ensure a good turnout. For example, if you anticipate 20 guests unable to attend out of the 50 you send invitations to, then invite 70 people to compensate. Or – just enjoy a small gathering with your favorite people!
Create a magical venue
Temporary tent buildings offer a wide-open, blank canvas for you to decorate. The winter holidays in themselves are magical. Allow yourself to transform this space into something incredibly memorable. It can be traditional or something fun and unique. Or, if you and your friends are tired of the wintry weather, you could even transform the space into a tropical paradise and have a luau!
The options for decorating are unlimited. Use your imagination and get creative.
Don’t forget to bring the good stuff
What is the good stuff? It is everything that makes your holiday event – besides you and the guests, of course. For instance, the food, the entertainment, etc. When planning your holiday event, consider these questions:
- Are you planning on having a sit-down dinner or a buffet style? Or, would you rather just serve bite-size snacks and appetizers?
- What would your guests like to do at your event? Consider the guests you have invited – are they kids? Adults? Guys? Ladies? A mix of both? Are they more into sports or games? Or prefer music and dancing?
- Have you considered having a DJ? Or perhaps hooking up your own electrical equipment (or renting some)? A silent party is no fun – you will want to have some holiday sounds at your event.
Start planning now so that you can create a space for your guests to enjoy your holiday event while taking a break from their hectic holiday schedules. Sometimes it is more about relaxing and socializing in a peaceful environment than anything else.